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Friday, December 16, 2011

25 Days of Christmas and Holiday Series - Day 16

The Gift of Health And Happiness Ornamental Bird Nest

A little bird nest that I found last year
while trimming the bamboo.

According to an old German legend, if you find a bird nest in the tree you harvest for Christmas, you will have an entire year of health and happiness. I cannot imagine the excitement a young German family would experience if, indeed, they brought the tree home only to find that a lovely little bird had left behind this amazing gift!

A simple, thoughtful way to send health and happiness to a friend is by conveying your well wishes by making and giving a wonderful little bird nest for their Christmas tree. My sister told me about this legend a few years back. I was charmed by the thought and I wanted to make a few of these little precious ornamental nests for a few friends on my list.

The following tutorial explains how to make your own nest, but of course you can buy a pre-made nest at your local crafting store, or perhaps you have a real one left behind in your yard. Now that would be neat too!

Supplies

Spanish Moss

Wire for the nest frame

Floral wire

Decorative birdie

Clothes Pins

Assorted accents

Narrow, small holiday ribbon

scissors, wire snips, hot glue gun

I first made a little make shift basket with the base wire. I did this by first making a loop the circumference of the nest. I then used three additional pieces of wire to create a basket bottom, twisting the ends of the wire around the top loop.

I then grabbed a handful of moss and rolled it in my hands, tangling the material. Then I gently shaped the nest, digging into the middle with my thumbs to create the bowl-like shape.

I put a big glop of hot glue on the outside bottom of the nest and pressed it into the wire frame working it around to create the basic nest.

I then turned the nest upside down and hot glued a clothes pin to the bottom of the nest. Allow the hot glue to set up on the clothes pin.

Turn the nest back over and prop it up. Next you will place the bird, the accents you have chosen and a little bow on the top of the nest.

First start with the bird. A few of my birds came on clips, some on sticks, one on nothing. The one that had nothing, I jammed and hot glued a skewer into the bottom of that bird, cut off the excess skewer and used hot glue to place him in the nest. The extra reinforcement matters for stabilizing the bird to the nest.

Form the small bow and run a floral wire through the back of the knot.

Fold the wire in half and twist together.

Put hot glue on the wire and work it into the front of the nest to secure.

I made this one for a friend of mine who celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah in her home.

This little nest is one I made for myself. The sparkly little gold darling has collected up her treasures. They happen to be two of my mother's vintage clip earrings. Since I love vintag-y stuff, think they make a wonderful accent. More personal.

The sky is the limit with this project. You can alter what type bird you want to use, the accents and the bows according to your recipient. Just remember to include a little note with your nest, explaining the legend. It makes it all the more special and conveys your wishes. I hope you enjoyed this little project. Would love to know which one was your favorite! Here's mine...

these are adorable! i have a friend who hates birds and i sometimes give her bird things as a joke- this would be great! ;) i personally love birds so we always laugh about it- and she buys me bird things and says she has to suck it up just for me.

Alright, you definately have my attention here! I never knew of the birds nest and the good luck belief until reading it just the other day in blogland. And of coarse, I LOVE bird's nest in my tree. I just may have to do some (a lot) of these for next year, because I intend to use the same theme for next year.

I have an old nest that I put in our tree every year, but now I know there's folklore behind it. Darling nests! I especially like the earings placed in the nest, because birds love to line their nests with shiny objects they find while they're out and about.

OOOh! I LOVE the little gold birdie with all her shiny treasures. This is a great idea! I have a friend I was agonizing over what to get her and now I think a bird nest would be perfect!Thanks so much for sharing! Deb